This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
"And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom." (2 Chronicles 2:1)
I was blessed by thinking upon this verse this morning. Solomon was determined to do something for God's kingdom—specifically to build a house for the name of the Lord. I like that word, "determined." He was determined to do this thing. Determination is something that seems to be lacking in much of the Christian world today. We've lost our bite; we've lost our teeth. "Determination" sounds too carnal. We see plenty of it in the world, however. Yes, they are determined. They have an agenda and are aggressively taking steps to achieve their ungodly goals. Like Apollyon said in Pilgrim's Progress, "I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws, and people; I am come out on purpose to withstand thee." The world has this kind of determination. Do we?
Daniel is another that comes to mind. Here is a young man that "purposed in his heart" that he would not defile himself in Babylon. That's determination! What about Caleb, who as an 85-year old man said, "Give me this mountain!" There's a man with a backbone of steel. Or what about the Lord Jesus Himself who set his face "like a flint" to go to Jerusalem, to accomplish His mission? Like the great captain of our salvation that He is, He endured the cross, despised the shame, and finished the work.
I had the privilege of visiting with JOHN FULTON yesterday, a friend and craftsman, who is building for us our conference table. It is made out of solid black walnut and will be the centerpiece furniture at The Vault around which we will gather daily. God willing, this will be the table where we will gather with students and staff to pray. If you read on in the 2 Chronicles passage, you will see that Solomon's determination led him to build the temple with such craftsmanship and beauty that he spared no expense. He put his whole heart and soul into its construction, "for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great." Why all this effort? Solomon answers this with, "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods." Solomon tells us again in Ecclesiastes 9:10, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Why? Because great is our God!
Friends, in the words of Isaiah 62:7, let us "give him no rest." Let us have some of that determination in our prayers. Let us not be so quick to give up. Oh! for holy determination! Where are the Jonathan Edwards with his RESOLUTIONS? Where are the William Careys that "attempt great things for God?" Where are the Holy Clubs of Oxford with the Wesley brothers and Whitefields? Friends, don't settle. Don't be lulled. Pray for godly determination.
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
Mon-Fri @ 12pm EDT // Sat @ 10am EDT
We invite you to join our dedicated and earnest group of praying participants of all ages from around the world that meet every day over Zoom to pray. At the start of each prayer call, a different individual will bring a brief Scriptural meditation. Here's the most recent:
